Watchdog Watch

Following are summaries of recent reports by the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Philanthropic Advisory Service and the National Charities Information Bureau.

Those two private organizations report on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The organizations do not approve or disapprove of charities, and urge potential donors to evaluate the importance of variations from the standards. They also note that charities’ practices may change at any time.

For organizations that do not meet the standards, information is given only on those standards that are not met. Those organizations meet all the other standards.

Copies of the full reports are available from the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Philanthropic Advisory Service, 4200 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22203; World-Wide Web http://www.bbb.org; and the National Charities Information Bureau, 19 Union Square West, New York 10003; World-Wide Web http://www.give.org.

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia 19102-1479; http://www.afsc.org. Meets all standards.

NATIONAL CHARITIES INFORMATION BUREAU
Cancer Federation, P.O. Box 1298, Banning, Cal. 92220. As of December 7, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. Based on information contained in the Cancer Federation’s fiscal 1998 informational tax return, and on information already in the bureau’s files, the organization does not meet the standard calling for the governing board to have policy guidelines to avoid material conflicts of interest involving board or staff members, or the standard calling for the organization to supply on request complete financial statements that are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, accompanied by a report of an independent certified public accountant, and reviewed by the board. The bureau notes that there is a question as to whether the Cancer Federation meets the standard calling for the organization’s activities to be consistent with its statement of purpose.
Chemotherapy Foundation, 183 Madison Avenue, Suite 403, New York 10016. As of January 4, the organization had not provided current information about its finances, programs, and governance. Based on information contained in its 1997 informational tax return, and on information forwarded by contributors or already in the bureau’s files, the organization does not meet the standard calling for the governing board to have no material conflicts of interest involving board or staff members.